More Than 3,000 Infected with Rare Bacterial Disease After Chinese Pharmaceutical Factory Leak
Officials announced that thousands of people have tested positive for brucellosis in northwestern China, following an accidental expelling of bacteria into a pharmaceutical factory's air last year. Brucellosis is a disease typically infecting livestock.
A statement issued by the city's health commission said at least 3,245 people had contracted the disease in Lanzhou, Gansu province's capital.
Brucellosis is a bacterial illness which, according to the World Health Organization, is usually found in animals such as pigs, sheep, cattle, dogs, and goats.
Over a thousand individuals are also suspected of having contracted the disease. However, since the problem was initially identified in November last year, no fatalities have been reported.
The latest numbers, based on the report from Global Times, a state-run media organization, are much higher compared to the initially-thought figure.
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Expired Sanitizers and Disinfectants
Authorities reportedly traced the leak back to the pharmaceutical factory, Zhongmu Lanzhou, which was found to be using expired sanitizers and disinfectants.
Last summer, Zhongmu Lanzhou was said to have accidentally emitted an aerosolized version of Brucella bacteria into the air. This led the bacteria around the area through the wind.
Although common in animals such as pigs, sheep, cattle, dogs, and goats, WHO says it is found in humans too, although it is very rare to see human-to-human transmission.
Brucellosis Symptoms
Brucellosis causes symptoms akin to flu, which includes fever, weakness, weight loss, and malaise. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it can cause long-lasting conditions, like arthritis and swelling of some organs.
The Lanzhou Health Commission said, in July and August 2019, the pharmaceutical factory was manufacturing vaccines for animals infected with brucellosis.
Then, in November and December last year, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported, "The first brucellosis infections were reported at the Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute."
As a consequence, the Chinese government canceled permission for Zhongmu Lanzhou to manufacture various drugs.
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Treatment of Brucellosis
The WHO said treatment for brucellosis is done by taking antibiotics for several weeks. The infection was fairly typical in the country until the 80s when antibiotics and vaccines helped the nation control its occurrence. Nonetheless, many have known occasional outbreaks to cause devastation with livestock globally.
Before the start of every treatment, there is a need for a doctor to conduct a diagnosis of brucellosis infection. Tests are usually done to look for bacteria from blood or bone marrow samples or other body fluids.
Additionally, a blood test can be done to determine antibodies from bacteria. Once a diagnosis is made, the doctor can now prescribe antibiotics. Depending on the treatment's timing, as well as the severity of the disease, recovery may take a couple of weeks to a couple of months.
Mortalities brought by the disease are rare, occurring in not over two percent of the total number of cases.
Health experts say the best way to prevent brucellosis is by making sure to avoid consumption of undercooked meat and unpasteurized dairy products.
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Sep 18, 2020 07:20 AM EDT
